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Pleasants County Commissioner Jay Powell is right to be cautious in his optimism over news the Pleasants Power Plant may not be ready for retirement just yet. While a new letter from Energy Harbor to PJM Interconnection was encouraging, the end of July is not nearly as far away as many might wish.
Energy Harbor said it will keep the plant open through July during negotiations between Energy Transition and Environmental Management and other companies. While the deactivation status that was set for June 1 remains unchanged, Energy Harbor seeks to call the plant "mothballed," rather than "retired."
"Every layer of this onion has been peeled. It's been dead and resurrected over and over again. It's been a roller coaster ride," Powell said. "Obviously, this is not a done deal yet. We can't celebrate yet. But what it speaks to is this: the fact that they have some serious inquiries going on to the point they feel comfortable removing that retirement status to mothballing … that is the big deal."
Two FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiaries, Monongahela Power Co. and Potomac Edison Co., are in talks with ETEM to lease the plant for a year while it considers closing another power plant in the state and buying Pleasants Power. The plant would no longer produce power, but Mon Power/Potomac Edison would keep the 154 workers employed and keep the plant functional should the companies decide to purchase it.
Meanwhile, Omnis Fuel Technologies is also in talks with ETEM to buy Pleasants Power, to produce hydrogen using hydrocarbons with low or net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
"At this point in time, the Pleasants Power Plant celebrates every victory," Powell said. "Make no mistake, (Thursday's) statement to PJM can be game changing. Although we realize the battle isn't won yet, this is a critical step."
Indeed. But as Powell said, the time for celebration is far down the road. Now is the time for those who have already worked so hard to save this plant -- and these jobs -- to double their efforts. It is also time for those who might be tempted to seek a few political points on the matter to stay quiet and out of the way. The rest of us will join Powell in continuing to "work hard and pray harder that a complete resolution will be coming forward soon."